Nowhere to Run by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page B

Joe asked.
    "I guess I went back to sleep," Sue said apologetically.
    "She's not a sleuth like us," Callie said as she rejoined the group. "She doesn't distrust people the way we do."
    Joe looked at Callie skeptically.
    "Let's leave Callie's car and Sue's bike at the house," Frank suggested. "If we can't find Dad and Sims, we'll all go to Queens and search Frost's apartment."
    While Callie looked for lunch stuff in the Hardys' kitchen, Frank tried to locate his dad and Sims. "No luck," he said to Joe.
    "Don't you guys have anything besides fish sticks?" Callie yelled from the kitchen.
    "No!" Frank shouted back. "Joe ate all the cold cuts last night."
    "Brandon isn't answering his phone," Sue said as she returned from the den. She had tried to call Brandon on Fenton's private phone.
    "He's gone?" asked Frank suspiciously.
    "I doubt it," Sue replied. "He said the hospital gave him a pretty strong sleeping pill and he was going to take a taxi back. He's probably out like alight."
    "You thinking that Brandon is involved in this somehow?" Joe knew his brother well enough to read his thoughts.
    "Why not?"
    Sue laughed. "Brandon Dalton doesn't have the guts to say boo to his own shadow. He's all good looks and air."
    "Guess what?" Callie said as she emerged from the kitchen. "You guys will have to buy us lunch along the way — unless you want fish-stick sandwiches."
    "We've got to get gas," Frank announced as they headed for the highway.
    "Hey, remember what one of those Sinbads said to Switch?" Joe suddenly asked with a start.
    "What?"
    "They were supposed to meet Frost at Daryl's. That's the gas station on Tenth."
    "That was a while ago," Callie pointed out.
    "It's worth a try," Frank said as he turned the van down Tenth. "Maybe someone can tell us which way Frost went."
    Daryl's was one of the last full-service stations left in Bayport.
    "Why are you stopping here?" Callie asked as Frank pulled the van into a vacant lot across the street from Daryl's.
    "Look." Frank pointed to a Harley parked by the gas pumps.
    "Let's check it out." Joe hopped from the van before Frank could say anything.
    "Wait here," Frank said to Callie and Sue. "That might not be Frost's bike."
    Joe was kneeling beside the bike when Frank approached.
    "Ever seen an oil leak like that?" Joe asked. Directly beneath the engine was a dirty black patch of oil.
    "Must have been here awhile," Frank noted, "to leak that much oil."
    "Not so long," Joe said. "The tank isn't filled yet." The nozzle was in the bike's gas tank, and the pump was still working.
    "Can I help you guys?"
    Frank and Joe spun round. The station attendant leaned against the doorway leading into the office, wiping his greasy hands on an even greasier T-shirt. Joe recognized him from school.
    "Hey, Randy," he said with a friendly wave. "Know whose bike this is?"
    "No." Randy walked over to Frank and Joe.
    "Know where the guy is?" Frank asked.
    "Why?"
    "I've been looking for a bike like that." Joe forced a smile.
    "That piece of junk! I thought you knew something about bikes," Randy scoffed.
    Joe sighed. "Just tell us where he is."
    Randy shrugged. "Guy said he was going to the bathroom." He turned and wandered back inside the office.
    "I'll check around the side," Joe said. "Try to phone Dad. Maybe he's — "
    Joe's last words were cut short by the blast of a gun. The bullet smashed glass on the pump next to Joe. Frank and Joe jumped behind the pumps.
    "Where'd that come from?" Frank yelled.
    "Over there!"
    Frank followed Joe's pointing finger. A small-barrel .38 was sticking out around the edge of the building, held by someone wearing a black cycle helmet.
    "What's going on out — " Randy began as he stepped outside the station office.
    "Get back!" Joe shouted and jumped up, waving the attendant back.
    Frank yanked Joe back down as the gunman fired again.
    Two more shots quickly followed. The last bullet struck the gas hose leading to Frost's Harley. The rubber hose split in two and fell to the